News
Inter-House Competition Kicks Off
One of the most important traditions at Shawnigan kicked off for the year as students packed the fields for Inter-House Volleyball on Sunday, September 10 and Inter-House Track and Field on September 17.
Inter-House competition is woven into the fabric of the Shawnigan Journey, uniting Houses as teams in friendly battle against one another, and bringing the School together for a series of spirited events over the course of the school year.
“Generally, inter-House is a community builder,” said Mr. Matt Clinton-Baker, Assistant Head – Student Life. “It’s a really good representation of what makes Shawnigan special, with the whole school doing the same thing at the same time.”
Although the focus is on the competition between Houses, the real value, says Mr. Clinton-Baker, comes from the spirit kindled within the Houses as students dress up in their House colours and paint their faces to match. Spirit Captains are tasked with leading the charge at inter-House events.
Inter-House competition covers a diverse group of events that allow all students to participate and contribute to the success of their Houses. In addition to sports — nearly every sport that Shawnigan competes in is included on the inter-House schedule — the slate also features puzzles, air band and esports competitions, and the final points of the year come from the Houses’ respective academic success.
It isn’t by accident that the School holds inter-House events on back-to-back weekends as soon as the students are on campus in September, nor that they are different kinds of events. While both are centered around sports activities, volleyball is a little more casual in nature, with only six players per House competing as their Housemates enjoy ice cream while cheering them on. Track and field, meanwhile, is a bit more intense, as nearly everyone has at least one chance to represent their House.
Among boys’ Houses, Lonsdale’s won both of the first two inter-House competitions, with second place going to Duxbury in volleyball and Copeman’s in track and field. Strathcona was the top girls’ House in volleyball, followed by Kaye’s, and Renfrew took first in track and field, edging out Strathcona.
We acknowledge with respect the Coast Salish Peoples on whose traditional lands and waterways we live, learn and play. We are grateful for the opportunity to share in this beautiful region, and we aspire to healthy and respectful relationships with those who have lived on and cared for these lands for millennia.
Shawnigan Lake School is an independent co-educational boarding school for ages 13 –18 on Canada’s beautiful Pacific Coast. Our diverse, interdisciplinary and innovative programming helps shape the next generation of global leaders.
